INTRODUCTION
Nextdoor, an app that specializes in forging neighborhood connections, has risen in popularity, especially in 2020. According to the app’s communications team, Nextdoor saw its global daily active members increase more than 80 percent month over month starting in March.
In a typical public involvement process for a proposed development, one of the goals for developers is to build relations with the surrounding neighborhoods and create a two-way communications channel. Here are three ways developers can use Nextdoor to achieve this.
CREATE A BUSINESS PAGE
To stay proactive and increase brand awareness, developers should create a Nextdoor Business page. To claim your free business page, follow the steps below:
- Go to https://nextdoor.com/create-business and choose “Professional business.”
- If you don’t already have a profile on Nextdoor, enter your contact information for your business.
- Confirm the address for your business or change it by clicking inside the address box, then click “Looks good!”
- Add a cover photo (e.g. recent project), logo, and your business story (aka – mission statement). Then click “Continue.”
Once you’ve claimed your business account, you can verify your association with the business by either receiving a call or text message at the business’s phone number in the records. Then enter the verification code given.
One thing to keep in mind is that your business will not appear in Nextdoor searches until it has three recommendations. One way to do this could be asking past/current customers to recommend your business through your e-newsletter.
GIVE HOAs USEFUL INFORMATION
Developers should use Nextdoor to educate neighborhood associations and residents about the proposed project. You also should provide them a contact person to take their questions and input.
For your public involvement meetings, post them as an event in the neighborhoods affected by the project. If folks can’t attend, record the meeting and post the video in the event once it’s over.
RESPOND TO ALL COMMENTS
Nextdoor allows you to control your notification settings so you can choose the types of posts you want to be notified about or how often you receive them. For mobile devices, click the three lines in the bottom right corner, select “Settings,” click “Notifications” and tap “Push notifications.”
When responding to comments (both positive and negative), be professional, transparent and precise. Stick to the high-level project talking points.
ANOTHER APP TO CONSIDER
To maximize your communications channels, you also should consider using Facebook Neighborhoods when it’s released. Facebook Neighborhoods focuses on local groups that connect with people, activities and things being sold in the area. Right now the feature, which is a clone of Nextdoor, is being tested in limited cities.